A former chief instructor at the Sandhurst military training acadamy has signed up with fast-growing recruitment consultancy.

Fresh Approach Solutions has appointed Major General Andrew Farquhar CBE (above) as a non executive director to help the recruitment consultancy expand its UK market share.The firm, which has recently opened new headquarters to Birmingham, provides contract and full-time employment to the defence, rail, civil engineering, space and international project support arenas.

It supports clients in the UK, North America, Europe, India and the Middle East, and also has a Soho based London office with plans to launch offices in India and Oman by Spring 2009.

Andrew’s military career has spanned 30 years, affording him great insight into strategic operations, diversity and risk management, and a plethora of training and recruitment experience.

He has managed multi-billion pound budgets for the Ministry of Defence, not least a successful construction project in Colchester, and has been an operational soldier all his career, commanding at every level from platoon to division, including time with UK Special Forces.

He has also held the position of chief instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where officer cadets are developed and assessed.

Managing director of Fresh Approach Solutions, Adrian Mansfield, said: “Andrew’s calibre of character and expertise brings an invaluable resource to the company.”

Andrew was awarded an MBE in 1981, and CBE in 2003. He received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in 1995.

Andrew retired from the army in July.